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D40 vs D40x - second thoughts

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Absolutic

Absolutic

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About 6 months ago, I bought a refurb D40x for $275 at my local Samys and sold my D40 on ebay essentially not losing any money. I wanted ISO100, 10MP and 3fps. However I am now having second thoughts about my decision because of loss of 1/500 Xsync. I went on vacation to Hawaii, and used D40x as a backup to my D300. Many times at noon hour on the beach when shooting photos of my wife, I wished for 1/500 Xsync....... 1/200 was not good enough for them midday shots. I ended up significantly underexposing RAW and then bringing exposure back in PS which worked many times, but I feel with 1/500 it would have been much easier to fill-in flash. I also noticed that my D40's shutter was quieter than that of my D40x. So I am not thinking if I should trade back D40x for D40. On the other hand, I kind of feel weird about going backwards. Help me!!!
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Nikon D300- Nikon D40X- Panny TZ5- Sanyo E2
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40

 
I just bought a D5000 to replace a D40....but I am thinking why sell it? That 6mp sensor is amazing.....the D40 is amazing.

Maybe I will give the D40 to my wife so she can break it......like the 4 or 5 P&S's I have given her.
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http://www.pbase.com/dwinnert
 
Absolutic wrote:
[snip]

a backup to my D300. Many times at noon hour on the beach when shooting photos of my wife, I wished for 1/500 Xsync....... 1/200 was not good enough for them midday shots. I ended up significantly underexposing RAW and then bringing exposure back in PS which worked many times, but I feel with 1/500 it would have been much easier to fill-in flash. I also noticed that my D40's shutter was quieter than that of my D40x. So I am not thinking if I should trade back D40x for D40. On the other hand, I kind of feel weird about going backwards.

FWIW, I find the extra megapixels to be useful for cropping. I use flash during the day, too, so I appreciate your desire for a faster x-sync speed. Would an ND or polarizer help? I mean, are you shooting relatively close to your subject? If so, your flash might have enough power to deal with the loss of a stop or two from the filter...particularly if you zoom the head since you're just using it for fill.

larsbc
 
My major gripe was that D40 does not have any in body motor for bunch of great lenses out there, such as my 11-16mm tokina . Shortly after I bought D300 I sold it and it only sold for 205 on fleabay (1600 shots, almost new cond.) It was one of the most stupid decisions I had made ever. I'm probably not going to rebuy it again, but I'd much rather have it for whatever reasons, like backup, or to just mess around then be 200 bucks richer....
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http://www.pbase.com/jps1979/galleries
 
You wouldn't be going backwards. I mistakenly purchased a 40X a couple of years ago when my D40 was in for service. I still have it, but it just sets in the closet now that I have the D40 back. I also have a D90 and D200, (along with some others) but the D40 is the amazing machine of the bunch.
 
If your D40X is a backup to the D300 and you want something that has faster flash sync capabilities then I would suggest the following:

1) A used D70 (gives you the same resolution and 1/500 flash sync as the D40 but also gives you the ability to use screw drive lenses and FP mode)

2) A used D200 (FP mode similar to the D300 but doesn't cost as much as another D300)

3) A refurb D90 (same resolution as the D300 and has FP mode for those sunny outdoor shots that need fill)

4) A refurb D300 (ideal backup body is always an identical body)

One of my Nikons is a D40X and I love it ... but I agree that the 1/200 flash sync and no FP mode can be very limiting for bright outdoor shots.

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http://www.jjjphotography.com
See 'The Big Picture' at http://jjjphotography.blogspot.com/
 
Yeah, I thought that was the problem with D40/D40x/D60, that you need at least a D80 to support FP
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Nikon D300- Nikon D40X- Panny TZ5- Sanyo E2
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40

 
JJJPhoto said:
If your D40X is a backup to the D300 and you want something that has faster flash sync capabilities then I would suggest the following:

1) A used D70 (gives you the same resolution and 1/500 flash sync as the D40 but also gives you the ability to use screw drive lenses and FP mode)

2) A used D200 (FP mode similar to the D300 but doesn't cost as much as another D300)

3) A refurb D90 (same resolution as the D300 and has FP mode for those sunny outdoor shots that need fill)

4) A refurb D300 (ideal backup body is always an identical body)

One of my Nikons is a D40X and I love it ... but I agree that the 1/200 flash sync and no FP mode can be very limiting for bright outdoor shots.
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Thank you for your suggestions. The problem is that I would be trading my D40x and my wife would not allow me to spend 'yet more $$$" so it would have to be an even trade, and all of your suggestions cost more :( I know I can find someone out there who would trade their D40 for my D40x but I doubt anyone would trade their D70 for one.....
JJJPhoto said:
--
http://www.jjjphotography.com
See 'The Big Picture' at http://jjjphotography.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...
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Nikon D300- Nikon D40X- Panny TZ5- Sanyo E2
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40

 
This is refreshing... another 40 vs 40x comparison. Next time maybe you'll research more thoroughly before you sell what you needed to buy what you didn't.
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stevef1961 said:
This is refreshing... another 40 vs 40x comparison. Next time maybe you'll research more thoroughly before you sell what you needed to buy what you didn't.
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Click to expand...
Anything else of a substance?

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Nikon D300- Nikon D40X- Panny TZ5- Sanyo E2
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40

 
6 months ago you bought a camera and now you're having second thoughts because you couldn't take pictures at noon in Hawaii. That's the dilemma here, correct...?

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that is why I still keep my D40 and will until its dead and buried
--
Mac OS X: Because making UNIX user friendly was easier than fixing Windows.
http://www.pimshots.com
 
stevef1961 said:
6 months ago you bought a camera and now you're having second thoughts because you couldn't take pictures at noon in Hawaii. That's the dilemma here, correct...?
Click to expand...
Hmmm . . . i want to have these kinda problems!! :D

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David~
WSSA Member #90



. . . shoot like there's no film in the thing!
 
Supr X said:
stevef1961 said:
6 months ago you bought a camera and now you're having second thoughts because you couldn't take pictures at noon in Hawaii. That's the dilemma here, correct...?
Click to expand...
Hmmm . . . i want to have these kinda problems!! :D
Click to expand...
Well then my wife got annoyed because she wanted her pictures taken right there and then and she was not liking the results and she started to annoy me.... and those who are married know....."happy wife - happy life."

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Nikon D300- Nikon D40X- Panny TZ5- Sanyo E2
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40

 
I just checked out your Hawaii pictures and gotta hand it to you. If I were you I'd be getting whatever camera it took to make her happy too!

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stevef1961 said:
I just checked out your Hawaii pictures and gotta hand it to you. If I were you I'd be getting whatever camera it took to make her happy too!

--

Click to expand...
Exactly, she was happy with my D300 photos though.

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Nikon D300- Nikon D40X- Panny TZ5- Sanyo E2
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40

 
Absolutic said:
Well then my wife got annoyed because she wanted her pictures taken right there and then and she was not liking the results and she started to annoy me.... and those who are married know....."happy wife - happy life."
Click to expand...
Hmm, my problem is that I have D40 but my wife doesn't want to be taken pictures usually and more importantly doesn't go to the beach.

You know - Japanese beauties hide from the sun under black umbrellas and go to pachinko, not to the beach ;-)

Bogie
 
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